North Kent based marine carpenter Kyle Abingdon reports that he and his parter have built this very striking 15ft6in 1940s class C hydroplane from designer Bruce Crandall’s plans, and that she’s up for sale.

Here’s what he says:

‘She’s made out of Robbins Elite marine ply sheathed in biaxle cloth and epoxy and has Douglas fir for stringers, stem and keel with plywood web frames.

‘We’ve given her a sapele deck, although the racing boats would not have had this. I couldn’t resist given the lovely barrel shape of the deck. Also she has a teak rubbing strakes.

‘The stainless steel fin will help her turn when she’s up on the plane.

‘She’s sitting on a new galvanised trailer.’

Drop me a line at gmatkin at gmail dot com and I’ll pass your enquiry on to him.

Looking at this page about hydroplane classes in 1951 seems to suggest the maximum permitted engine capacity for this kind of hydroplane would have been about 2.9 litres – though the very thought of that big a lump makes a lump in my throat. Take care, Kyle – I think engines may be more powerful for their size these days!

He’s just decided to donate funds from his book sales from now until the 9th April to Farley Boat Works, the local boatbuilding museum and sponsor of the annual Port Aransas plyWooden Boat Festival.

Here’s what he says:

‘The town was hit very hard by Hurricane Harvey, and I’d like to do what I can to help them recover. I’ve sailed the Texas coast a lot and made lots of good friends there, and I’d like to see the interest in wooden boats continue down there – they’ve had a good thing going on.’

Ben Crawshaw’s book about cruising the Mediterranean in a craft made using free boat plans

The Running Tide – Gavin Atkin’s online album of songs for singing sailors

A new magazine: Classic Sailor

Classic Sailor is a new magazine about traditional and classic boats from ex-Classic Boat editor Dan Houston and colleagues that promises rather more coverage of the traditional craft around our coast. I think we should wish them well... Find out more here.

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Gavin Atkin's weblog for the sort of people who like looking inside boat sheds: old boats, traditional boats, boat building, restoration, the sea and the North Kent Coast

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Boatbuilding help available

Our Faversham-based friend Alan Thorne can help with boatbuilding projects - constructing to plans in very tidy stitch-and-glue or more traditional techniques. Contact him by email at ajthorne3@hotmail.com or phone 07865 091155